Judge rules lottery ticket stripper must face trial, but not for being naked

April 11, 2014|By Manuel Gamiz Jr., Of The Morning Call

Trial ordered in robberies, but not alleged nudity

A 27-year-old man accused of stripping off his clothes after being denied a Powerball lottery ticket in February must face Lehigh County Court on robbery charges, a district judge ruled Friday.

Miguel M. Valera, however, won't have to face charges of being naked.

District Judge David M. Howells Jr. ruled Valera must face trial on more than a dozen charges for the bizarre chain of events that began with Valera asking for a lottery ticket and ended with him being chased down the street by two men, one swinging a baseball bat.

Valera allegedly went to the convenience store Feb. 20, hours after lottery machines had closed for the night, police said. The Powerball drawing that night was for a $425 million jackpot.

An employee at the Quick Mart, 707 N. Seventh St., reported to Allentown police that Valera undressed after being told he couldn't get a ticket, according to court records.

The employee told police Valera started walking around the store naked, holding his penis, and throwing candy and other items around, according to court records. The employee called police and Valera put on his clothes, ran out and went to another convenience store across the street, police said.

That Quick Mart employee did not show up to testify in court and an open lewdness charge against Valera was withdrawn.

Mohmmad Sarwar, an employee at the second convenience store, Pace Mart at 640 N. Seventh St., testified Friday that Valera stood in line behind another customer. Once Sarwar opened the cash register, Valera demanded he hand over everything behind the counter, Sarwar testified.

Another Pace Mart employee grabbed a baseball bat and chased Valera out of the store, he testified. Valera knocked down some items on his way out, police said.

Valera jumped into a car that was at the gasoline pumps and tried to drive off, but the car's owner pulled him out, Allentown police officer Kyle Pammer testified. The owner and the store employee with the baseball bat chased Valera down the street and into the path of arriving police officers, he testified.

Sarwar was asked if Valera appeared drunk when he came into his store.

"I'm not a doctor," he answered. "I'm not God."

Valera is charged with more than a dozen offenses, including robbery of a motor vehicle, theft, receiving stolen property, public drunkenness, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.